Supporting Early Years Education

In a recent survey we carried out on School’s Ministry, we were struck that a large number of churches were supporting children in their early years. This ranged from church-based Toddler groups, involvement with local nursery schools and input into early years education in a primary school setting.

It’s recognised that the first 1001 days, from conception to age two, is a period of rapid growth. During this time babies’ growing brains are shaped by their experiences, particularly the interactions they have with their parents and other caregivers. What happens during this time lays the foundations for future development. Work with this age group provides the church with an excellent opportunity to demonstrate care and support for local families, ensuring that children get the best start in life. Indeed, giving children the best start in life is central to the Scottish Governments Early Years Framework - which can be viewed here.

Below we share some ideas and resources for churches in their work with Early Years.

Opportunities for churches with early years

• Could you provide play activities with early years or offer help and supporting to a pre-existing community group?

• Inspired by 3D Drumchapel, could you host a School Buddies session to give children and their families the chance to meet other school families prior to school starting?

• Could you contribute to a quiet or sensory corner, perhaps with dim lighting/fairy lights etc. Easy to include e.g. a smooth wooden cross for stroking/an electric candle/other artefacts to add elements of spirituality (from multiples faiths?) to an existing space.

• Many nurseries involve the children in the preparation of food - could you have some fun by introducing children to Bible stories with Bake through the Bible 

• Could you host local community walks for children and their parents? Muddy Church have lots of outside ideas and it’s worth checking out the Wonder Walks series from the Scotish Bible Society.

• Could you share songs on Bible themes using Playtime Christian songs or Out of the Ark; Fischy Music

Materials and resources

There are quite a few materials for Toddler Groups that could also be used in school settings and a range of materials and resources that people from local churches can use and share as they support work with early years children and their families.

· The Church of England | It’s Just the Toddler Group – Toddler groups are amongst the most exciting and signifi cant starting places for mission for both adults and children.

· Not just a parent and toddler group - 12 top tips for school readiness

· Playtime | Care for the Family – a range of story books and songs to use with under 5’s

The Good Practice Guide for Parent and Toddler Groups - The guide has recently been updated and is very useful if you are running or thinking about starting a Toddler Group

Toddler Bibles and Bible Story Books 

There may be opportunities to share Bible stories in a school context, especially around Christian festivals. Opportunities to come to the church and explore some of these may also be appreciated. There are Toddler Bibles and big story books as well as stories on YouTube.

Beginning with God - Beginners Bible and accompanying bible study notes that helps parents with young children to explore the Bible with their child. It provides a simple and fun way to start your child in a regular habit of reading God's word and growing to know God, who loves them.

Share a Story Bible - With captivating illustrations and simple Bible stories, this bright book offers a great first step for young children to learn more about Jesus and God's plan for the world

Bob Hartman Rhyming Bible - From Esther to Samuel, Zacchaeus to Daniel, join in the rhyming fun with all your favourite characters and see the Bible come alive in Mark Beech's fantastic illustrations.

Scottish Bible Society Resources for Children - Explore key Bible stories through a range of books, films, images and activities.

Stories Jesus Told by Nick Butterworth – the book includes various parables of stories told by Jesus. This book is an ideal introduction to simple, short and often funny stories, sharing truth, love and wisdom with young children.

Other Bible Story books for Toddlers

Further Reading

Scottish Government - Early Years Framework

Steps the Scottish Government, local partners and practitioners in early years services need to take to give all children in Scotland the best start in life

Education Scotland - What is Curriculum for Excellence

The Curriculum for Excellence builds on the solid foundations developed in the critical years pre-birth to three. Within CfE, children are entitled to a broad general education from age three until the end of S3. The early level of CfE for most children spans the period of time from age three until the end of Primary 1. It supports a smooth transition in learning between ELC and primary school.

Education Scotland - Early Years Resources and Reports

Play Scotland - Realising the ambition: Being Me

This key document on learning through play in early years has been creatively and sensitively designed to guide and support all those who work with babies and children in the early learning and childcare sector and beyond into the early years of primary school in Scotland. Threaded throughout the document you will find updated information, detailed advice based on recent research and signposting to a wide range of professional development resources.   

“A Time to Reflect” or Religious Observance (RO)

You may think that RO is the latest way of saying ‘school assembly’ – it’s not actually that straightforward and, in some cases, may be very different from a traditional assembly. Religious observance is defined as:

Community acts which aim to promote the spiritual development of all members of the school community and express and celebrate the shared values of the school community.

Report of the Religious Observance Review Group, May 2004

RO might happen in an assembly hall when the timetable says, ‘assembly.’ However there are some key differences. Assemblies are often times for giving notices, awarding certificates and updating the pupils on what they should – and should not – be doing as well as reinforcing the school’s values and ethos. In contrast, RO ideally should not take place in the context of ‘school housekeeping’ but should be a stand alone event. Schools are required to enable pupils to participate in six acts of RO a year, not including any based on religious festivals

RO is not ‘an act of worship’. Schools are diverse places with a variety of faiths and views on religion among both staff and pupils. You can’t make someone worship a God they don’t believe in! Rather, RO is a time where pupils have the opportunity to engage with some of the big questions of life, and it is valid to do this from a faith perspective. It is intended to allow spiritual development in its broadest sense – through sensing mystery, values, a changed quality of awareness, otherness, challenge and meaningfulness.

This breadth gives real scope for creativity to develop RO outside of an assembly style context, which can have a greater impact on pupils as they don’t come with a mindset of being in a conventional assembly.

Steve Younger has produced a Time for Reflection template that you can view here.

Sue Thomson, Educational Resources Consultant with the Scottish Bible Society and founder of the Ten Must Know Bible Stories project, has put this short video together sharing some top tips for leading a school assembly. This insightful and practical guide covers what questions to ask schools before delivering an assembly; useful phrases to use during, and what you might want to include.

You’ll also find some pointers in the grand ideas section. For more information on RO have a look at the Religious Observance Template or visit the SU Scotland website.

Jargon Buster

Jargon Buster

You'll come across lots of terms within schools that you may not be familiar with. Below we help you out with the jargon.

ANS: Additional Needs Support

Christian Focus Week (or day): the opportunity to explore the Christian faith through a theme such as charity or peace across mulitple curriculum areas for a day or a week

Curriculum for Excellence (CfE): the name for the school curriculum (see 'Get Started' for more details)

Curriculum Leaders: another name for a Head of Department, generally found in secondary schools

Depute: Senior member of teaching staff who is second in command to the head teacher

Education Scotland: The national body supporting quality and improvement in Scottish education

Enhanced Disclosure: A criminal record check for working with children obtained before 2011, now replaced by the PVG Scheme Record

E’s and O’s: Experiences and Outcomes (see the article on Curriculum for Excellence in Getting Started for details)

HMIe: School inspectorate, now under the umbrella of Education Scotland

LSA: Learning support assistant

PSD: Personal and social development

PVG: Membership of the “Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme” enables you to obtain a criminal record check and be recognised as someone who is not unsuitable to work with children or vulnerable adults

RME: Religious and Moral Education

RMPS:  Religious, Moral and Philosophical Studies studied at secondary school

RO: Religious Observance events. Traditionally an assembly, but under the guidelines for RO there is scope for some genuine creativity. See article for more detail.

SMT: Senior management team

Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) : They provide the formal qualifications gained by pupils in schools

Transitions: The move from P7 to S1

Can’t find the word or acronym that keeps tripping you up?  Either contact us or have a look at the SQA website